Wild Greenery makes Singapore a Global Eco-City Pg 6. Annual Bird Census Trends over 23 Years Pg 8 ACTIVITY CALENDAR CONTENTS NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2013

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1 NEWSLETTER OF THE NATURE SOCIETY (SINGAPORE) Jul-Aug 2013 MICA (P) 123/08/2012 ISSN: ACTIVITY CALENDAR CONTENTS Pg Plant Walk from Venus Drive to Jelutong Jul 6 Bird & Plant Walk at Kranji Marshes Jul 7 Slideshow on Birds of Antartica Jul 20 Talk on Bird Illustration & Optics for Birding Jul 26 Birdwatching at Lorong Halus Jul 27 Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Jul 27 Kayaking Sungei Khatib Bongsu Aug 3 Coastal Clean-Up at Mandai Mudflats Aug 10 Plant Walk from Venus Drive to Jelutong Aug 17 Birdwatching at Kranji Marshes Aug 18 Butterfly Walk at the Butterfly Orchard Aug 18 Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Aug 24 Twilight Ramble at Mandai Forest Aug 24 Birdwatching at Bukit Batok Nature Park Aug 25 Fun with The Rail Corridor Aug 25 Butterfly Walk to Bukit Panjang Park & Forest Aug 31 10th Fall Migratory Bird Census Sep 8 Birdwatching at Tampines Wood Sep 15 Annual Bird Census Trends over 23 Years Pg 8 Surprise Sighting of the Common Birdwing W i l d G r e e n e r y m a k e s Singapore a Global Eco-City 28 th Annual Bird Census Report Fun with Snakes at Pasir Ris Park Announcements 11 Directory 11 All Purpose Form 12 LOCAL & OVERSEAS TRIPS LED BY MEMBERS 4D/3N Adventure Trip to Endau Rompin Aug 8 to 11 Wild Greenery makes Singapore a Global Eco-City Pg 6 1

2 Activities Saturday 6 S aturday 6 Plant Walk from Venus Drive to Jelutong If you have been wondering where the Cross Island (MRT) Line might cross the Nature Reserves and what might be impacted, join President Dr Shawn Lum and the Plant Group on this walk. There is nothing like surveying the ground. We will see primary forest as well as some of the oldest secondary forest on the island. Our route along the Jelutong Tower track will run roughly parallel to the proposed alignment of the Cross Island Line. Meet at Venus Drive car park at 9 am. Kids attending the walk with their parents will have a dedicated kids guide. For members only. S unday 7 Sunday 7 Bird & Plant Walk at Kranji Marshes Meet Gerard Francis (gerard.francis@gmail.com) at 7.30 am at Kranji Dam Carpark B near the tidal gates of Kranji Reservoir, off Kranji Way. Reachable by Bus 925 from Kranji MRT Station. From the meeting point, a hired bus will ferry us to our destination. We begin with a pleasant stroll along a countryside road to the Kranji Marshes where we will continue our walk along the PUB Bund. Along the way, Gerard will point out interesting plants that flourish around the marshland habitat. The marsh is designated by URA as a Nature Park and is currently adopted by under PUB s ABC Waters Programme. Birding highlights here include the Red-wattled Lapwing, Purple Swamphen, Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, White-browed Crake, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle and more. Please register by 30 June 2013 on our website. A registration form will then be ed to you. Max: 20 pax. Open to the public but children below 12 years of age are not allowed for safety reasons. S aturday 20 Saturday 20 Slideshow on Birds of Antartica Veteran photographer Jimmy Chew will be sharing his extensive collection of bird photographs taken on a recent trip to Antartica. This slideshow will start at 4 pm in the Conference Room at Tanglin International Centre (TIC), 354 Tanglin Road Level 1. If you are taking public transport, alight at Redhill MRT station and walk for 15 minutes. Alternatively, alight at Orchard MRT station and take Bus 111 from Orchard Boulevard. Ample parking available NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG at TIC. For members only. F riday 26 Friday 26 Talk on Bird Illustration & Optics for Birding Our first speaker is Alan Pearson, the illustrator for A Field to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore by A Jeyarajasingam. Alan has been birdwatching for more than 35 years and illustrating bird books and magazine articles for over 30 years. His talk will reveal how a field guide is put together, and will also cover bird illustration in general. He will go on to introduce birdwatching in England where he is based, and suggest how to plan a birding trip there. The second topic is presented by Leica. It will touch on general information on optics for birding. Meet at 8 pm in the Conference Room of Tanglin International Centre (TIC), 354 Tanglin Road Level 1. If you are taking public transport, alight at Redhill MRT station and walk for 15 minutes. Alternatively, alight at Orchard MRT station and take Bus 111 from Orchard Boulevard. Ample parking available at TIC. For members only. S aturday 27 Saturday 27 Birdwatching at Lorong Halus Meet Wong Chung Cheong (chungcheong.wong@ gmail.com) at 7.30 am beside Popeye Restaurant at Tebing Lane off Punggol East. You can take the MRT to Punggol station and transfer to the LRT. Alight at Riviera LRT station and stroll towards the meeting point. This walk starts at the Punggol Promenade. For years, Little Grebes have made their home at Lorong Halus, an old rubbish dump site. Grassland species like the Yellow-bellied Prinia, Munias, Baya Weaver, Long-tailed Shrike and more thrive here. In 2011, PUB completed works to create Lorong Halus Wetland to help purify water that flows through the former dump site. Join us for an enjoyable morning of sights and sounds presented by these birds. Please register by 19 July 2013 on our website. Max: 30 pax. Kids attending the walk with their parents will have a dedicated kids guide. Open to the public. S aturday 27 Saturday 27 July Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Please register with Kerry Pereira (kerry@nss.org.sg) or at the website stating your name, if you a member or not, affiliations (eg. school or company), experience if any, and contact details for this mission to rescue and study the Mangrove Horseshoe Crabs

3 (HSC) at the Mandai mudflats. Time: 7 am to 10 am. Meet at the extension of Kranji Road near the junction with Kranji Loop. Take Bus 925 from Kranji MRT station and alight at the first bus stop as the bus turns from Kranji Road into Kranji Loop. Cross the road and look for the nameless track that starts beside Leong Soon Pte Ltd (251 Kranji Road). Bring along a cap, shoes/booties, sunblock, repellent, cutter for HSC rescue and a camera. Washing facilities available. Open to the public Activities S aturday 3 Saturday 3 Kayaking Sungei Khatib Bongsu Join us from 7.30 am to am to explore Sungei Khatib Bongsu by kayak, in a 7.5 km mangrove paddle amongst one of the last accessible riverine mangroves in Singapore. Expect to see a variety of plant and animal life. Learn about the Giant Fig, snails, rubik cubes, lobsters, and why there are plenty of babies in the mangroves. Suitable for beginners as the kayaks are stable double-seaters. Please register with Kerry Pereira (kerry@nss.org.sg) or at the website stating your name and if you are a member or not. Details will be ed to participants upon successful registration and payment. Bring sun protection, water, snacks, and a change of clothes (will get wet!) Toilets with showers are available. The event is subject to cancellation if there is adverse weather and/or if we cannot meet the minimum numbers. A replacement trip will be offered if cancellation is due to weather. There is no refund for no-shows. Min/Max: 16/24 pax. Participants must be at least 4 years old. Children 12 years old and below must be accompanied by at least one parent in the same kayak. Guardians are not allowed. Closing date: 22 July 2013, first come first served upon receipt of payment. Price for members: $55 (cheque) / $58 (online payment). Price for non-members: $70 (cheque) / $73 (online payment). Cheques should be made out to Nature Society (Singapore). Open to the public. S aturday 10 Saturday 10 Coastal Clean-Up at Mandai Mudflats Join us from 7 am to 10 am at the Mandai Mudflats to make a difference by helping to clean up the coast. Located at the extension of Kranji Road where it intersects with Kranji Loop, these mudflats are a key habitat for horseshoe crabs and an important feeding ground for birdlife in the area. Please register with Kerry Pereira at kerry@nss. org.sg or at the website stating your name, if you a member or not, affiliations (eg. school or company), and contact details. Bring along a cap, shoes/booties, sunblock, repellent, and a camera. Washing facilities available. Open to the public. S aturday 17 Saturday 17 Plant Walk from Venus Drive to Jelutong We will repeat the route taken in the 6 July walk, but 3 perhaps with some updated information on the planning for the Cross Island Line. It is not all about MRT lines though. Great plant life, habitat diversity, beautiful vistas, and lovely spots to relax or take photos in will be some of the many highlights of this outing. Be sure to join President Dr Shawn Lum and the Plant Group. Meet at Venus Drive car park at 9 am. Kids attending the walk with their parents will have a dedicated kids guide. For members only. S unday 18 Sunday 18 Birdwatching at Kranji Marshes Meet Lee Ee Ling (leeel60@yahoo.com.sg) at 7.30 am at Kranji Dam Carpark B near the tidal gates of Kranji Reservoir, off Kranji Way. Reachable by Bus 925 from Kranji MRT Station. From the meeting point, a hired bus will ferry us to our destination. We begin with a pleasant stroll along a countryside road to the Kranji Marshes where we will continue our walk along the PUB Bund. The marsh is designated by URA as a Nature Park and is currently adopted by under PUB s ABC Waters Programme. Birding highlights here include the Red-wattled Lapwing, Purple Swamphen, Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, White-browed Crake, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Greyheaded Fish Eagle and more. Please register by 10 August 2013 on our website. A registration form will then be ed to you. Max: 20 pax. Open to the public but children below 12 years of age are not allowed for safety reasons. S unday 18 Sunday 18 Butterfly Walk at the Butterfly Orchard We will be taking a leisurely stroll along the Butterfly Orchard (BTO) to take in the sight of butterflies flying free in an urban environment. Our walk will start at Stamford Green butterfly garden, passing through SMU and Istana Park, and ending at the Penang Road Open Space. We hope to see iconic Plain Tigers, Emigrants, Pansies and more. Do carry enough water. Meet Anuj (HP: ) at 9.30 am at the open space in front of the National Museum of Singapore (93 Stamford Road). This walk will take around 2 hours. Kids attending the walk with their parents will have a dedicated kids guide. For members only. S aturday 24 Saturday 24 August Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Please register with Kerry Pereira (kerry@nss.org.sg) or at the website stating your name, if you a member or not, affiliations (eg. school or company), experience if any, and contact details for this mission to rescue and study the Mangrove Horseshoe Crabs (HSC) at the Mandai

4 mudflats. Time: 7 am to 10 am. Meet at the extension of Kranji Road near the junction with Kranji Loop. Take Bus 925 from Kranji MRT station and alight at the first bus stop as the bus turns from Kranji Road into Kranji Loop. Cross the road and look for the nameless track that starts beside Leong Soon Pte Ltd (251 Kranji Road). Bring along a cap, shoes/booties, sunblock, repellent, cutter for HSC rescue and a camera. Washing facilities available. Kids attending the walk with their parents will have a dedicated kids guide. Open to the public. S aturday 24 Saturday 24 Twilight Ramble at Mandai Forest Let us enjoy the transformation of day to night as we ramble through Mandai forest to Dairy Farm Adventure Centre. Planet Saturn will be high up above our heads in the night sky. We hope to see nocturnal wildlife such as nightjars, owls, cicadas and fireflies. Meet Pandian and Sutari at the bus stop opposite the former Mandai Orchid Garden at 5 pm. The ramble will end around 11 pm. Not suitable for children below 12 years old. For members only. S unday 25 Sunday 25 Birdwatching at Bukit Batok Nature Park Situated in a densely populated corner of Singapore, Bukit Batok Nature Park is a green gem. This patch of woods is no bigger than the Botanical Gardens, yet supports a surprising variety of bird species. These include locally threatened birds such as the Violet Cuckoo and Changeable Hawk Eagle. It is one of the best places in Singapore, and perhaps Southeast Asia, to see the highly threatened Straw-headed Bulbul. Join Bird Group Chairperson Wing Chong in exploring this park. Meet at 7.30 am at the main entrance. The walk should end before 12 noon. For members only. Activities S unday 8 Sunday 8 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2013 S unday 25 Sunday 25 Fun with The Rail Corridor The 26-km Rail Corridor runs along the spine of Singapore, from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands. It is one of flagship conservation projects, preserving the old railway line as a wildlife corridor that connects adjoining nature areas, also serving as a great place for walking and cycling. Join Uncle Benjamin Ho and the Kids as we explore the nature offerings along the 2-km stretch at Bukit Timah Road near King Albert Park. Highlights include the old Bukit Timah station, the classic railway bridge and of course the birds, butterflies and insects that thrive in the open countryside. Time: 8 am to 10 am. Please register your children (4 to 12 years old) with Gloria Seow at gloria_seow@yahoo.com, stating their names and ages, if they are members or not, if you need us to loan you a pair of binoculars or not, and let us have your mobile number. A fee of $5 per child (member) or $10 per child (non-member) will be collected on the spot. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to join in at no charge. Details will be ed to those who sign up. Open to the public. S aturday 31 Saturday 31 Butterfly Walk to Bukit Panjang Park & Forest Come appreciate the butterflies at Bukit Panjang Park and adjacent forest patch with Amy and KC Tsang (HP: ). It is close to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and remains rich in forest butterflies. Recent sightings here include forest species such as Royal Assyrian, Horsfield Baron, Knight, Branded Imperial, Common Lascar and the fascinating Bigg's Brownie butterflies, which often feed together with ants on 'honey dew' exuded by aphids. The area s grassland and scrubland have also yielded attractive butterflies like the Pea Blue and Peacock Pansy. As the construction of new condominiums continues close by, it is hoped that this forest patch remains intact. Please meet at 9.30 am at the base of Block 201 Petir Road, near the start of a footpath which goes uphill towards Bukit Panjang Park. S unday 15 Sunday th Fall Migratory Bird Census Birdwatching at Tampines Wood In September 2004, our first bird census covering the Meet Willie Foo (HP: ) at 7.30 am at the junction autumn migration period unveiled 8,035 birds from 135 of Tampines Road and Jalan Sam Kongsi. To get there, please species at 25 sites. Last year, we had 7,846 birds from use This area is located behind Tampines 135 species at 30 sites. Will we see a decline or upswing Industrial area, along Tampines Ave 10. There was once a in 2013? Join us to help determine the trends affecting Grebe Pond here but it has since been drained and has our wild birds. All birdwatchers are welcome but some given way to development. Visit this wooded area before it experience is required as we have a fixed census period. is gone. We will be looking out for Sooty-headed Bulbuls Time: 7.30 am to am. If you can help, please that call this place home. Other interesting species include coordinator Wing Chong at wingchongsg@gmail. the Red-whiskered Bulbuls, Bee-eaters, Black-shouldered com before 25 August He will inform you about Kites, Pied Trillers, Pied Fantails and more. If we are lucky, available sites and site leaders. Only those who sign up we might catch mixed flocks of Munias Black-headed, before the closing date will be assigned to a site. Open White-headed and Scaly-breasted feeding together! For to the public members only. Local & Overseas Trips Led by Members Continued on Pg 7 4 September

5 Everyone i n m y house knows t h a t I a m o b s e s s e d with butterflies. It is kind of hard to miss, what with me shouting Butterfly! every time I see one; field guides strewn across the house; and my incessant chatter along the lines of Oh did you see that Painted Jezebel? They re really pretty. Do you know that their host plant is You get the idea. My brother has taken to regaling me with stories of rare butterflies he sees every time he so much as steps out of the house. His tales usually end with a Peregrine Falcon swooping down and eating them all. Yawn. My mother indulges me in my obsession though. She notifies me if she sees a butterfly, and will describe it for my benefit. Our helper Kala didi will also tell me about the butterflies there are in a certain area. You have got to humor the crazy ones, right? Sunday morning on 12 May 2013 dawned bright, clear and freakishly hot. Kala didi called me to the kitchen. She showed me a moth she had found while walking our dog. It was fluttering weakly in a plastic bag. There was obviously something wrong with it. Kala didi told me of how it had continuously circled over her head, never resting, till she finally decided to take it home to show me. I looked, staring. I blinked once. It remained the same. I blinked again. And my heart rate rose steadily. The identity of the so-called moth was becoming more and more visible in my mind s eyes. A certain picture from a field guide having popped into my head. The Common Birdwing! The Common Birdwing is one of the largest butterflies in Singapore, if not the largest. Its wingspan sometimes reaches up to 18 cm. It is sometimes mistaken as a small bird. With a beautiful yellow hue against black wings, it is highly valued by collectors. This has led to the Birdwing also being listed by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). Within Singapore, its habitats are few. Although it is essentially a forest species, almost all known populations are NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2013 Surprise Sighting of the Common Birdwing By Tanvi Dutta Gupta, age 12 Photos by Lena Chow & Tanvi Dutta Gupta 5 sustained by planted larval host plants (Aristolochia tagala) in areas such as the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Butterfly Orchard, Alexandra Hospital Butterfly Trail, Bukit Brown and Clementi Woods. Yet the Common Birdwing was right here before me, in my home at Astrid Meadows, a secluded condominium near Holland Village. This area is mainly surrounded by houses and occasional patches of green. The nearest host plants (and home of the butterfly) are probably a couple of kilometers away at the Singapore Botanic Gardens or even Bukit Brown. I could not hide my growing excitement. Finally, I dashed away for a camera. If this were indeed a Birdwing, proof would be needed as this would be a new location record. Gently, Kala didi took it out and let it perch on her hand. I could see that its lower abdomen was faded white and that some of its brilliant yellow hue was dirtied. If it had indeed come from the Botanic Gardens, its long flight would have tired it out. Snap! Snap! I busied myself with the camera. The butterfly merely sat, almost dejectedly. We decided to place it on a plant outside the window. I expected it to fly away immediately given its new-found freedom. Yet it did not. This one did not even have the strength to sit up, collapsing sadly on the plant. For a desperate moment, I thought it might have died. Then, after blowing air on it, it began to flutter its wings faintly. There was hope. Every minute thereafter as I chewed on my breakfast, I could not help but dash back to the room where the Birdwing laid. It was barely alive. I thought that it was how it would live out the rest of its short life. After a long period, there was a change in its prone figure. Its wings were again fluttering, at first slowly, and then faster and faster. Slowly, the Birdwing rose up, its yellow and black wings buzzing like a hummingbird s. I held my breath. Then it fell, collapsing again on the leaf. But this butterfly would not give up so easily. Many agonising attempts later, my Birdwing finally took flight. It soared up and up, till it almost reached the fourth floor. Then it flew to the side and turned a few brief circles. Its black-and-yellow body clearly outlined against the brilliant blue sky. I was overjoyed. It flew to the side, and was soon out of sight. It had a long flight back home.

6 W i l d G r e e n e r y m a k e s Singapore a Global Eco-City By Dr Ho Hua Chew, Conservation Committee Vice Chairperson This article first appeared in The Straits Times on 1 May 2013 Looking at the Landu s e P l a n t h a t c a m e w i t h t h e W h i t e P a p e r o n population, i t a p p e a r s that almost everywhere outside the Tekong and W e s t e r n C a t c h m e n t military areas will be built up, leaving only about 9% as parks and nature reserves. The Government has made great strides on "brown issues" such as clean and recycled water and green buildings. And it has done well in "managed greenery", like public parks, golf courses and football fields. But a holistic and consistent commitment to environmental sustainability must not neglect the natural greenery the remaining wild or "spontaneous" secondary forests, mangroves and scrublands, for example. A recent satellite study found this natural greenery to still constitute 29% of Singapore's total land area. The Land-use Plan's vision, unfortunately, regards this greenery largely as dispensable for development. Much of this wild greenery is secondary forest. Of this, only about 5% is protected as nature reserves. By 2030, going by the Land-use Plan, most of this unprotected greenery outside the military zone will be gone. A sterile green facade Roof-top greenery, roadside trees, small neighbourhood gardens and public parks are no substitute for the massive loss of forested areas, with its rich biodiversity and free ecosystem services. It will only mean a city in 6 a s t e r i l e g r e e n facade. The Punggol Masterplan is touted as the model of Singapore's green city vision. But how much of the wild greenery will be left after the entire H o u s i n g Board estate is set up? Looking at the display model, only the thin strip of trees along the old Punggol Road. The mixed forest on the ridge in Punggol Avenue 17 will be sliced off by two new roads. And what is left will be reduced to a public park. Also, the entire forest along the coast from Punggol Marina to Serangoon River will be wiped out. Coney Island will have half of its forest area planned for a housing estate. Punggol will then not be a green housing estate but a concrete jungle. The Tengeh/Brickland area too seems slated for another massive HDB housing estate, leaving almost nothing of the extensive wild forest there intact. A green plan needs to respect the natural environment. What is the point of controlling industrial and urban pollution if we then increase pollution and environmental degradation through destruction of our natural greenery? We should make every effort not to add to global pollution by way of releasing more carbon dioxide through the destruction of our existing greenery, especially the forests, which, because of the dominance and density of trees and hence plentiful woody structures, help to sequester carbon dioxide. Forests are a vital help in greatly reducing ambient heat from the "urban-heat island

7 effect" arising from massive use of concrete. A report on a study by a National University of Singapore climatologist (The Straits Times, 6 Nov 2012) said that in the past 40 years, the difference in average night temperature between a rural area like Lim Chu Kang, which still has a lot of greenery, and the city area, had widened drastically from 3 C to 7 C. The demise of even more forests in Yishun, Brickland and Pasir Ris, and in the coming years in Tampines, Tengah, Punggol and Woodlands/Marsiling, will escalate this trend. Forests are also critical to the long-term preservation of our national biodiversity. The Central Nature Reserves (Bukit Timah and Central Catchment Nature reserves) our largest tract of forests are increasingly surrounded by inhospitable concrete as more housing projects emerge around its borders, gradually turning this priceless biodiversity haven into a "habitat-island", with its wildlife locked up as in a fortress under siege. Wildlife corridors needed Such isolation leads over time to a decline in the genetic variability of species with small populations, leading to loss of resilience and even eventual extinction. Hence, apart from the commendable creation of the Eco-link between the Bukit Timah and the Central Catchment Nature reserves, a wider and more comprehensive strategy to include "wildlife corridors" for the conservation of our biodiversity should be implemented nationwide. The forest patches outside the Central Nature Reserves serve as ecological corridors a series of "stepping stones" for wildlife. In the north, wildlife migrates from Johor to Singapore. In particular, forest species move into the Central Nature Reserves and rejuvenate its fauna. Stepping stones along the north-eastern coast comprise mainly the forested patches (including mangroves) of Pulau Ubin, the Pasir Ris Green Belt, Lorong Halus, Punggol and Khatib Bongsu. For example, the Oriental Pied Hornbill, thought to be extinct for decades but now seen in many forested areas of mainland Singapore, originates from Johor. But its dispersal can be said to be facilitated by the presence of this series of stepping stones. There are also fragmented forest patches that become stepping stones, enabling forest wildlife to disperse from the central forest reserves to public parks like those along the Southern Ridges, for example, Mount Faber. Those along the railway corridor such as Clementi forest can also provide a link. Moreover, forest patches close to the Central Nature Reserves, for example, Bukit Brown, can act as "extra habitat" or foraging ground for forest species, like the Malayan Flying Lemur and the Chestnut-bellied Malkoha. With 29% of our wild greenery still intact, the "garden city" or "city-in-a-garden" vision is not our only option. Why not have a global city that is not only a garden city but one with a lovely countryside and ample room for quiet recreation, making Singapore a global eco-city? To achieve this, it is proposed that the 20 more new parks planned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority cover or accommodate these unprotected secondary forests. In particular, the mature ones like Bukit Brown, Bidadari and Clementi, which are rich in biodiversity. Before we decide how much population growth and its concomitant infrastructure development is required, we have to ask: How much of the remaining wild greenery should be left untouched? And this can be meaningfully sought only by a proper survey of Singaporeans' preferences....continued from Pg 4 Local & Overseas Trips Led by Members 4D/3N Adventure Trip to Endau Rompin Dates: 8 to 11 August 2013 Cost: $220 per pax including two way train travel, three nights stay at Kuala Jasin in twin sharing chalets and all meals. Closing Date: 15 July 2013 Join Raja on an exciting adventure to Endau Rompin with activities like jungle trekking, kayaking, swimming, fishing, waterfall visit, night walk, Orang Asli visit and handicraft display. Please apply on the All-purpose Form using one form per 7 person. Kindly make out your cheque to Nature Society Singapore and send this together with your completed form(s) to S Rajamanickam, 61 Chestnut Crescent, S Open to the public.

8 28 th Annual Bird Census Report The Bird Group conducted its 28th Annual Bird Census (ABC) on 31 March 2013 in generally warm and humid weather. Participation dropped slightly from 59 people in 2012 to 56 birders this year. The number of sites held steady at 26, but is a far cry from the 30 sites covered in In terms of birds recorded, 2013 had 152 species and 7,478 birds. In other words, we added seven species compared to 2012, but total numbers slid by 89 birds. To put these figures in perspective, the 2013 census results were slightly better than the average ABC diversity of 150 species. However, they were significantly lower than the average abundance of 8,782 birds as documented over a 23-year period between 1991 and 2013, as can be seen in Table 1. By Lim Kim Seng White-vented Myna proved its dominance once again with a count of 989 birds, a drop from 1,003 birds in 2012 and 1,243 birds in However, it still accounted for 13% of all birds counted this year. In second spot was the Asian Glossy Starling with 779 birds, an increase from 554 birds in 2012, but still significantly lower than the 1,004 birds in The Pink-necked Green Pigeon came in third with 415 birds, slightly above the 404 birds counted last year. Fourth most abundant bird was the Yellow-vented Bulbul with 358 birds, falling from 403 birds in In fifth position was our most abundant migrant, the Whimbrel, with 334 birds recorded, an increase from 249 birds. Of the 26 sites monitored, Lorong Halus was the most diverse with an impressive list of 68 species. This was followed by Khatib Bongsu, Poyan and Ubin Central, all with 51 species. The least diverse sites were Sembawang Park (22 species), Telok Blangah Hill Park (23 species), and Sime Track (25 species). The top three most bird populous areas were quite different from last year s. As expected, the best site was nationally-important Sungei Mandai. It had 1,033 birds, down from 1,083 birds in In second place was Kranji Marsh with 464 birds counted. Third spot went to Lower Seletar Reservoir with 436 birds. The least populous sites were Upper Seletar Reservoir Park (114 birds), Sime Track (124 birds), and Telok Blangah Hill Park (126 birds). Singapore s most abundant bird was no surprise. The 8 The remaining top 10 birds were the Pacific Golden Plover (271 birds), Common Greenshank (235 birds), Black-naped Oriole (229 birds), Little Egret (185 birds) and Common Iora (167 birds). The most significant change came from the Common Greenshank, which jumped 16 places from 2012 to reach seventh position. The top 20 positions were occupied by 14 residents and six migrants. The trend becomes even more interesting when looking at the top 20 most abundant species, see Table 2. The top 10 species of 2013 accounted for 53% of the total, while the top 20 species made up 68% of the 7,478 birds counted, in an almost identical trend to In contrast, a total of 20 species were represented by single digit counts, compared to just 11 species last year.

9 Table 2: Top 20 Most Abundant Birds in ABC 2013 NO. SPECIES 2013 TOTALS 2012 TOTALS & RANKING 1 WHITE-VENTED MYNA (1) 2 ASIAN GLOSSY STARLING (2) 3 PINK-NECKED GREEN (4) PIGEON 4 YELLOW-VENTED BULBUL (5) 5 WHIMBREL* (6) 6 PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER* (3) 7 COMMON GREENSHANK* (23) 8 BLACK-NAPED ORIOLE (7) 9 LITTLE EGRET* (13) 10 COMMON IORA (11) 11 SPOTTED DOVE (9) 12 GREY HERON (8) 13 COLLARED KINGFISHER (12) 14 OLIVE-BACKED SUNBIRD (14) 15 STRIPED TIT-BABBLER (17) 16 PACIFIC SWALLOW (15) 17 COMMON PIGEON (16) 18 OLIVE-WINGED BULBUL (25) 19 COMMON REDSHANK* (10) 20 ASHY MINIVET* (32) * Indicates migrants. Number in brackets indicates 2012 s rankings. Migrants made up 33 species or 22% of the total of 152 species counted. This figure is below the 37 species or 25% of the total recorded in 2012, and may be related to the census being conducted 20 days later than last year s. We recorded 118 residents (compared to 108 residents in 2012), and one nonbreeding visitor. Only eight waders were counted. This is perhaps reflective of the general decline of both diversity and abundance of migratory waterbirds in Singapore over the last three decades. In addition, 10 raptors were recorded, the most abundant being the White-bellied Sea Eagle with 31 birds. Of the 56 nationally threatened species, 28 species or 50% were recorded. The most abundant of these was the Grey Heron with a 147 bird count, down from 193 birds last year, and dropping to 12th position overall. The globally threatened Straw-headed Bulbul was in second place, with 68 birds counted, three more than last year. Our third most abundant nationally threatened species was the Red Junglefowl, with 36 birds nationwide. This may have included escaped or released birds. Dropping to fourth spot was the Oriental Magpie-robin at 27 birds. The fifth position went to the Lesser Whistling Duck with 25 birds counted. Red Data bird highlights included our rarest native parrot, the Blue-rumped Parrot (three birds) at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Nee Soon Swamp Forest; a Spotted Wood Owl at Pasir Ris Park; a Crested Serpent Eagle at Malcolm Park; two Great-billed Herons at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve; a Whitechested Babbler at Nee Soon; and a Mangrove Blue Flycatcher at Ubin Central. In addition to the Straw-headed Bulbul, two other globally threatened birds were also recorded. These were the Yellow-crested Cockatoo and Tanimbar Corella, both counted at Malcolm Park. Both birds are introduced species through the caged bird trade, originally from Indonesia, that have thrived in Singapore s urban landscape. As it so often happens during a nationwide census, some fantastic rarities were also seen. They included a Chestnut-bellied Malkoha from Khatib Bongsu, a first for the area; a Javan Pond Heron at Halus; a Bluewinged Pitta at Poyan; and a male Yellow-rumped Flycatcher at Khatib Bongsu. Not included in the overall count but observed during the census were 12 exotic species. This included the Mute and Black Swans, African Grey Parrot, Peachfaced Lovebird, Masked Lapwing, Milky and Painted Storks, Great Cormorant, Blue Magpie, Yellowthroated Canary, Jackson s Weaver and Common Waxbill. Finally, the ABC 2013 would not have been possible without the contributions of the following people who led or assisted in the sites assigned and made it a success: Ali Jaafar, Ann Ang, John Ang, Samantha Ang, Azmi Mohamed, Justine Burley, Chan Kum Chun, MY Chan, Pat Chan, Jean-Marc Chavatte, Angela Cheng, Randal Cheng, Alfred Chia, Andrew Chow, Geoffrey Davison, Horst Flotow, Sue Flotow, Gerard Francis, Amaury Casenave Gassiot, Margie Hall, Jane Heppell, Terry Heppell, Ho Hua Chew, Ho Yong Tze, Kenneth Kee, Nessie Khoo, Danny Lau, Lee Ee Ling, Jimmy Lee, Lim Kim Chuah, Lim Kim Seng, Low Wai Hoe, Mohamed Faris, Ng Chay Tuan, Gillian Ong, Odelia Ong, Randal Ong, Alan Owyong, P Pandian, Rehan Yusoff, Jane Rogers, See Swee Leng, Jacky Soh, Sutari Supari, Mick Price, Tai Ping Ling, Tan Ju Lin, Tan Kok Hui, KP Teh, Wee Sau Cheng, Wing Chong, Wong Chung Cheong, Yan Jie Jun, Yang Pah Liang, Margaret Yeo and Yong Yik Shih. See you next year! 9

10 Fr o g s w e r e c r o a k i n g, c r i c k e t s w e r e c h i r p i n g a n d n i g h t j a r s w e r e keening a jub-jub-jub call. We had to contend with mosquitoes and wet, muddy terrain. This did not deter the group of 30 odd kids and parents who had gathered at Pasir Ris mangrove boardwalk on 6 April 2013 at the dinner hour of 7 pm. Under the cover of darkness, we were here to search for nocturnal water snakes. Excitedly, we set off with flashlights, insect repellent and long-sleeved clothing. At night, the mangrove swamp still teems with life. We spotted a handful of Giant Mudskippers (Periophthalmodon schlosseri) in their little territorial pools on the mudlfats. Mudskippers are fish that breathe through gills. Like amphibians, they can also obtain air through their skin and throat. When the tide is low, mudskippers adapt by storing air bubbles in their gills, much like a diver s oxygen tank. Their eyes are perched on the top of their heads for a 360 o view. Our torchlights also picked up numerous Vinegar Crabs, also known as Tree Climbing Crabs (Episesarma spp). There are t h r e e s p e c i e s found in Singapore. These crabs climb up mangrove trees during high tide to avoid predators s u c h a s f i s h, kingfishers and monitor lizards. They can scale heights as high as 6 m. They are given the moniker of Vinegar Crabs as Teochews traditionally eat them pickled in vinegar and black sauce. Tiny semaphore crabs, less than 1 cm long, are easily missed. They communicate their territorial rights by waving their pincers like flags. By using our binoculars, we could still pick them out. To our dismay, we did not see the fiddler crab. The male fiddler crab has an enlarged claw for mating and fighting while its smaller pincer is used for feeding itself. As we moved along the boardwalk, Uncle Ding NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2013 Fun with Snakes at Pasir Ris Park By Alastair Liew, age 10 Photos by Lena Chow 10 Li, Auntie Gloria and Auntie Lena pointed out the unique landscape of mangrove trees with their air-breathing roots interspersed with numerous Mud Lobster mounds. On the mudflats were Nerites, mangrove s n a i l s k n o w n a s Belongkeng, Mangrove Hermit Crabs as well as flatworms. We focused our torches on the tiny brackish streams that flowed seaward, the hunting domain of the water snakes. Finally, Auntie Gloria spotted the first Dogfaced Water Snake (Cerberus schneiderii) of the night, a 50-cm long sub-adult named for its protruding eyes. This individual was just 10 m from the boardwalk. It lingered in the shallow stream for a good five minutes, its wavy body swaying with the flowing water. Then it disappeared under a root. Without doubt, the highlight of the trip was another Dog-faced Water Snake, this time a 1 m long adult. Uncle Hang Chong pointed out that the forked tongue allows the snake to sense which direction a smell is coming from. He explained how it camouflages in the muddy water, waiting to strike out at unsuspecting small fishes. It can swallow prey much larger than itself. Later on, we came across another two Dogfaced Water Snakes, making it a haul of four snakes for the night. Although we waved our flashlights at the trees and scanned the vegetation, we did not catch a glimpse of the elusive Shore Pit Viper, a venomous snake. You can be sure that the Kids will be back to look for it, along with three other Water Snakes that inhabit Singapore s mangroves, namely the Crab-eating, Gerard s and the rare Cantor Water Snake!

11 Announcements Welcomes Tax-Exempt Donations If you believe in the importance of nature appreciation and conservation in Singapore, help us keep our work going with a donation to. All donations are tax-exempt. Please make out your cheques to Nature Society (Singapore). For individual donors, do write your full name, contact number and NRIC/FIN number at the back of your cheque. Giving us your NRIC/FIN means that tax deduction claims are automatically reflected in your tax assessment. We look forward to your financial support! Paperless Nature News If you wish to opt-out from receiving hard copies of Nature News to save trees, please inform Joe at joe@nss.org.sg. Please state if you prefer: A) get your copy of Nature News via an ed PDF file (less than 5MB), or B) download the same PDF file from the website. Wanted: Used Stamps for the Stamp Fund The Stamp Fund is boosted by members and friends who collect and send us used postage stamps. These are then sold to an overseas collector once or twice a year. Simply cut the stamps off the envelopes without cutting into the stamps edges. No need to soak the stamps off the envelope paper. Keep sending your stamps to the office in an envelope marked Stamp Fund! Our grateful thanks to all contributors. The Stamp Fund now stands at $19, Nature Forum The Nature Forum, found at forum/, is a virtual gathering place that serves to facilitate discussions on a whole range of nature-related topics. You can share photos and ideas, ask questions and forge friendships with fellow nature lovers. The forum is open to both members and non-members. Register now for a free account! New Members: Join us in our Special Interest Group & Other Activities All members are welcome to participate in any of our listed activities. Most events do not require prior registration. Simply turn up at the appointed time and place, and you will be off to discover and learn about Singapore s natural offerings. Do not be nervous about your lack of nature knowledge. Just let your trip leader(s) know that you are new and he/they will gladly guide you. Membership Benefits Show your membership card at these places below to enjoy discounts. Do contact us if your business is interested in offering Membership Benefits. 1) Nature s Niche 29 Transit Road, #04-13, Singapore Tel: * 10% discount at the online store for nature books, gifts and optics (eg. binoculars). Discount applies for self-collection only, and not for postal orders. 2) Pharmaplus 1 Orchard Boulevard, Camden Medical Centre #01-04 S Tel: * Up to 10% discount for walk-in customers only Contributions for Nature News Please send in your contributions for the Sep/Oct 2013 issue by 5 August them to gloria_seow@yahoo.com. All original photos should be in JPEG format with a minimum size of 1 MB. The Editorial Committee reserves the right to select and edit appropriate contributions for use. DIRECTORY Patron PROF TOMMY KOH President DR SHAWN LUM Office: Vice-President MR LEONG KWOK PENG Mobile: Honorary Treasurer MR SOO CHOON KIAT Honorary Assistant Treasurer MR DAVID TEO Honorary Secretary MS MARGIE HALL Mobile: Honorary Assistant Secretary MR TAN HANG CHONG Executive Committee Members MR GOH SI GUIM, DR HO HUA CHEW, DR HSU CHIA CHI Finance Advisory Group Members MR LEE CHIU-SAN, DR LEE LAY TIN, MR LIM CHIN KHENG Immediate Past President DR GEH MIN Co-opted Council Members PROF P N AVADHANI, MR GAN CHEONG WEEI, MS FAIZAH JAMAL, MR TONY O DEMPSEY Advisory Council Members MR IAIN EWING, MR WARREN KHOO, PROF KOH KHENG LIAN, MR KWEK LENG JOO, MR LIM JIM KHOON, MR LIU THAI KER, PROF NG SOON CHYE, MR SIM WONG HOO, MR MASON TAN, MR. RICHARD HALE BirdLife International Coordinator MR LIM KIM KEANG Environmental Law and Policy Coordinator/IUCN Coordinator MR VINAYAGAN DHARMARAJAH COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS Conservation Committee Acting Chairperson MR LEONG KWOK PENG Vice Chairperson DR HO HUA CHEW Education Group Chairperson MS GLORIA SEOW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP CHAIRPERSONS Bird Group Chairperson MR WING CHONG Secretary MR WILLIE FOO Butterfly Interest Group Chairperson MR ANUJ JAIN Vice Chairperson MR GAN CHEONG WEEI Jalan Hijau Chairperson MR TAN HANG CHONG Marine Conservation Group Chairperson DR HSU CHIA CHI Plant Group Acting Chairperson DR SHAWN LUM The Nature Ramblers Chairperson MR PARTHASARATHY PANDIAN Vertebrate Study Group Chairperson MS NG BEE CHOO Secretary DR LEONG TZI MING Nature News Editorial Committee MS GLORIA SEOW gloria_seow@yahoo.com MR TIMOTHY PWEE Mobile: MR GOH SI GUIM Mobile: Secretariat MR JOSEPH LIM, Accounts & Membership Officer MR KERRY PEREIRA, Member Programme & Outreach Officer Secretariat Contact Details 510 Geylang Road, #02-05 The Sunflower, Singapore Tel: Fax: contact@nss.org.sg 11

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